Omni Pen
Wizard FX Productions
If you already use an Omni Deck or a Phantom Deck, OMNI PEN provides you with a logical kicker to this already commercial presentation.
The OMNI PEN comes with a matching Sharpie and a DVD with three great routines. Creative performers will love the OMNI PEN.
Routines:
Spencer Wood presents 'OMNI PEN'
Spencer invites the spectators to sign a card prior to performing his favourite card routine. First the deck goes clear and in a logical kicker, the pen they signed the card with also goes clear even though they have been holding onto it throughout the entire routine.
Mathew Youngs presents 'Re-Captivated'
First the top vanishes before being found on the spectators own hand! Then the body of the pen vanishes and reappears. Finally the cap becomes clear in the spectators own hand prior to the colour being visually dragged off the pen.
Craig Petty presents 'Sharp Reloaded'
Inspired by Greg Wilson, Craig presents 'Sharp' direct from his number one set with the super commercial 'OMNI PEN' double kicker.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
So why, oh why dear reader, would you want to add a kicker, to the kicker? To me, this product simply isn’t anywhere close to the power of the Omni Deck. Sure, it’s a surprise, and it gets a reaction, but it doesn’t make it stronger than the deck vanishing. Also, the method described in the DVD relies on the spectator simply not paying enough attention to your show to not notice the sharpie they are holding is now clear. I’m definitely not against risk, but the fact the Omni Deck is more surefire, AND a stronger effect, makes this pointless.
Now, three routines are included on the DVD, and only one of them uses this as a kicker to the Omni Deck. The other two use it simply as a kicker to a pen & pen cap routine. Both routines happen extremely quickly. With everything happening so fast, it just doesn’t give the spectators time to react. The only moment given any importance by the performers, is the end, when the pen becomes clear. By then, many of the spectators are already lost in the blur of sleight of hand that the clear pen is simply an interesting object, more than a magical one.
The $30 price tag is also ridiculous in my opinion. Considering the Omni Deck costs considerably less and gets a MUCH better reaction, this officially seals the deal for me on this product.
Maybe one day I’ll see a use for this prop that I like. Until then, I have to review this based on what it IS, not what it could be.
(Top ▲)
Overall, I think this is a good investment, but let me be clear about a few things:
- Ad Copy
- Gimmick
- Effect
Ad Copy
The ad copy is pretty transparent and open. However there are a 2 issues that I need to point out. First, ad copy claims that the pen is scratch resistant. Considering the fact that mine came direct from the factor with several scratches on it, this is clearly false ad copy. Second, the pen cap on mine was scratched up terribly and looked like crap. The pen itself had several scratches and marks on it, and some weird black dot on it that would not come off.
The second thing, related to advertising, that was a little bit frustrating is the fact that in the video trailer there is an effect shown (a visual change of normal sharpie to the clear sharpie), but it is not taught anywhere on the DVD. Out of the three routines taught on the DVD, this visual change that was "teased" in the promo was what interested me the most. Yet it is not taught anywhere that I could find. There are a few other clips found in the demo that looked as though they were taking from the performance or explanation of a routine. However, those same clips are nowhere to be found in the product DVD. So that was a bit disappointing.
Gimmick
The gimmick itself looks pretty much just like a Sharpie marker. However, as mentioned above it is not scratch resistant.I'd say that the prop itself is about a 3.5/4 on a scale from 1 to 5 (5 being perfect). The lid is very scratched up and looks like something went wrong in the manufacturing process. The "pen" is pretty solid and sturdy and looks pretty good overall. Even though there are scratches on the pen, it's not enough of a problem to prevent me from using it.
Effect
You get three effects taught to you on the included DVD. Basically you get an ambition card routine that ends with Omni Deck and Omni Pen. You get version of Greg Wilson's Recap that ends with the sharpie turning "invisible (i.e., Omni Pen). Then you get another sort of pen/flurry routine that ends in the sharpie turning into the Omni Pen. As you know, I don't typically let the effects impact my review because tastes on that kind of thing are so broad, that it's far too subjective to judge. However, I will give my standard warning about watching Craig Petty perform. He is extreeeeeeeeeeeemely boring to watch. Actually it's quite annoying. He absolutely does not acknowledge his audience and certainly does not connect with them - at least not on the footage I've seen.
His non-pausing, non-stopping, excessive over-explaning of everything he is doing is not a presentation. It's a nuisance and it clearly showed on the face of the spectators watching him. However, Craig's lack of performance prowess has no bearing on whether or not this Omni pen is a well made gimmick and therefore will not impact my final verdict. However, I bring it up as a warning to any watching . . . do NOT copy his "performance" style. Do not attempt to learn presentation from his performance on this DVD. You will further perpetuate the plethora of problems in the performance area of our beautiful (yet in someways declining) craft.
The handling taught in combination with the Omni Deck by Spencer Wood has the advantage of a clever choreography that puts the Omni Pen in the spectator's hand through the entire routine. This sneaky structure allows the spectator to use the normal Sharpie and to continue holding onto what they think is the Sharpie, but is the Omni Pen. The structure of this allows the spectator to openly hold and even use the Omni Pen as a magic wand without even realizing that the pen has been switched.
Mathew Young's handling has a few great moments where the spectator is holding on to the pen when it changes. Overall, the three routines show a broad range of the potential of the prop. And let's stay clear . . . you are mainly just buying a prop . . . the Omni Pen. What you do with it can be one (or more) of the routines on the DVD, but in reality should be your own take on the use of the prop.
Final Thoughts
For about $30 bucks you get a pretty good looking clear "Sharpie" pen, a regular Sharpie pen and two Sharpie stickers which are never explained on the DVD. Basically, if you can see yourself doing an effect where the pen vanishes (i.e., turns clear), then this is a good option.
Final Verdict:
3.5 Stars with a Stone Status of gem (inaccuracies in the ad copy notwithstanding)